RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Feb.3: War of words has begun in Jharkhand as the State’s Education Minister Jagarnath Mahto used disgraceful words for Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika dialect which the state government gave regional languages status in Bokaro and Dhanbad for recruitment for intermediate level jobs in these districts.
While those using the said dialects felt hurt terming the words from the mouth of a state minister ‘Bhojpuri Ko Pure Jharkhand Se Ukhad Phekenge’ an attempt to deprive a section of local people of intermediate level jobs in the district, supporters of Mahto justified the words saying the minister should not be taken otherwise.
“Why to give local language status to Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika in Dhanbad and Bokaro whose status is limited to dialects only in Bihar, from where the languages originated? Is Jharkhand making an experiment? There are 249 Panchayats in Bokaro and 256 Panchayats in Dhanbad. When not a single Panchayat has people using the said dialects, what is the need of giving it local language status,” one of the Mahto supporters, Vikash Mahto, who is president of Jharkhand Pradesh Mukhiya Sangh, questioned.
Asked why not if Bhojpuri, Angika and Magahi, when people residing in BCCL colliery areas and Bokara Steel City area use it, Mahto supporter replied: “Those studying in industrial area impart education to their children either in Hindi medium or English medium and hardly use Bhojpuri, Magahi or Angika.”
Controversy over languages had kept all political parties in a fix. The JMM, which is heading the government, is in a catch-22 situation as one of the ministers from party quota Mithilesh Thakur, who took oath in Maithili in the assembly, is in the support of Bhojpuri, Congress is not clearing its stand on the issue as the minister from party quota Banna Gupta has expressed its solidarity with Bhojpuri language saying ‘Bhojpuri Bol la se mizaz hariyar ho ja la (Mind becomes fresh by speaking Bhojpuri)’.
Apart from this, the Congress being a national party cannot go against any language of the country. Recently a senior party leader Geeta Shree Oraon also resigned from the party on the issue. In an exclusive talk with Lagatar 24.com she clearly mentioned that ‘in Bihar when only Hindi, Maithili and Urdu have local language status. How come the dialects originated there are being given language status in Jharkhand?’
The BJP being a national party is in a fix as it is losing its base of local supporters who are shifting towards JMM and Ajsu on the issue. Locals are happy with regional parties as their leaders are openly criticising the decision of the government and successfully encashing the local sentiments.
In the capacity of chief minister Hemant Soren is helpless as it has the support of those parties also where there is proper respect for Bhojpuri, Magahi and Angika.
When contacted parliamentary affairs minister Alamgir Alam for a comment on the issue, he said: “matter is in the knowledge of the government. The decision will be taken at an opportune moment.” He, however, could not know when the opportune moment would come.”